[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 76 (Monday, April 21, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19252-19253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10238]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
49 CFR Part 393
[FHWA Docket No. MC-96-41; FHWA-97-2289]
RIN 2125-AE05
Public Meeting To Discuss the Development of the North American
Standard for Protection Against Shifting or Falling Cargo
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA is announcing a public meeting concerning the
development of the North American Cargo Securement Standard. The
meeting will include presentations of the results of recently completed
research and a discussion of a draft version of the North American
Standard for Protection Against Shifting or Falling Cargo.
DATES: The meeting will be held on May 3, 1997. It will begin at 9:00
a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Wyndham Greenspoint Hotel,
12400 Greenspoint Drive, Houston, Texas.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Larry W. Minor, Office of Motor
Carrier Research and Standards, HCS-10, (202) 366-4009; or Mr. Charles
E. Medalen, Office of the Chief Counsel, HCC-20, (202) 366-1354,
Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D.
C. 20590. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On October 17, 1996, the FHWA published an advance notice of
proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) concerning the development of the North
American Standard for Protection Against Shifting or Falling Cargo (61
FR 54142). The ANPRM indicated that the FHWA is considering proposing
amendments to its regulations concerning cargo securement requirements
for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate commerce.
Specifically, the agency is considering adopting new cargo securement
guidelines that will be based upon the results of a multi-year
comprehensive research program to evaluate current regulations and
industry practices. The FHWA requested comments on the process to be
used in developing the cargo securement guidelines.
Standard Development Process
The preliminary efforts at developing the North American Cargo
Securement Standard are currently being managed by a drafting group.
The drafting group is developing a model set of cargo securement
guidelines based upon the results from the multi-year research program.
Membership in the drafting group includes representatives from the
FHWA, Transport Canada, Canadian Council of Motor Transport
Administrators (CCMTA), the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Quebec
Ministry of Transportation--Ontario and Quebec are conducting most of
the research--and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).
The meeting on May 3 is intended to serve as part of a process for
further developing the guidelines and will involve a review of the work
completed to date by the drafting group. The meeting is open to all
interested parties. This process is intended to ensure that all
interested parties have an opportunity to participate in the
development of the guidelines, and to identify and consider the
concerns of the Federal, State, and Provincial governments, carriers,
shippers, industry groups, and associations as
[[Page 19253]]
well as safety advocacy groups and the general public.
For individuals and groups unable to attend the meeting, the FHWA
will publish the draft standard in the Federal Register. Further, the
CCMTA has posted information on the INTERNET. The website is: http://
www.ab.org/ccmta/ccmta.html.
With regard to future rulemaking notices, the FHWA will publish a
separate notice concerning its review of the docket comments sent in
response to the ANPRM. That notice will summarize the comments and
identify any issues that warrant reconsideration of the standard
development process.
Meeting Information
The meeting will be held on May 3, 1997, at the Wyndham Greenspoint
Hotel, 12400 Greenspoint Drive, Houston, Texas. The meeting is
scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is part of the Commercial
Vehicle Safety Alliance's 1997 Spring Workshop. Attendance for the
cargo securement meeting is free of charge and open to all interested
parties. However, anyone interested in attending any other session or
committee meeting of the CVSA's Spring Workshop must register with the
CVSA and pay the appropriate registration fee. For further information
about registration for other sessions or meetings of the CVSA's Spring
Workshop please contact the CVSA at (301) 564-1623.
The FHWA notes that since the CVSA's 1997 Spring Workshop is being
held at the Wyndham Greenspoint Hotel, the availability of guest rooms
at the hotel is very unlikely. Therefore, those needing hotel
accommodations may need to make reservations at other hotels in the
vicinity.
List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 393
Highway safety, Motor carriers, Motor vehicle safety.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 31136, 31502; 49 CFR 1.48.
Jill L. Hochman,
Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Motor Carriers.
[FR Doc. 97-10238 Filed 4-18-97; 8:45 am]
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